Adafruit Holiday Gift Guide 2014: NeoPixels

Holidays…twinkling lights…say no more! Nothing could be twinklier-lightier than Adafruit NeoPixels, individually-addressable RGB LEDs that work with the most popular microcontrollers. Go ahead and deck those halls, create unique DIY gifts, or simply dress yourself up in sparkle!


Decorating

The twinkle factor makes NeoPixels a natural for holiday decor…

DECORATING

LED Trinket Tree Topper: Moravian Stars come in various sizes and number of facets… the most common is the 26-point form which is composed of eighteen square and eight triangular shaped points.

WiFi Controlled LED Christmahanukwanzaa Tree: Decorating a holiday tree with a strip of NeoPixel addressable RGB LEDs is a great way to get into the holiday spirit. Don’t settle for a simple fixed color or animation of the LEDs though, expose control of the lights through a web page to control them from a phone, tablet, or computer. You can even let your friends and family control the lights for maximum holiday entertainment!

Gemma 3D Printed Tree Topper: Start a new tradition and design your own Tree Topper. Our tutorial will show you how to use Autodesk’s 123D Design software and a 3D Printer to create a custom tree topper. This is a great “Learn to 3D model & print” project as the shape is fairly simple, snaps together and can be customized.


Toys!

NeoPixels can convert an ordinary toy into a one-of-a-kind gift.

TOYS

NeoPixel Basketball Hoop: Basketball hoop lights usually aren’t nearly glam enough! With NeoPixels and Gemma you can program these basketball hoop lights to be a certain color or change colors when you score a point.

Flora+NeoPixel LED Skateboard Upgrade: Here’s an easy weekend project that will light up the night and help you stay safe while you skate. This LED upgrade uses NeoPixels and Flora – Adafruit’s microcontroller board. The 3D printed enclosure houses all of the components and has an easy to get to power switch.

raygun

You can try asking for this sci-fi inspired Ray Gun Blaster, but I have a feeling they’ll just say, “You’ll shoot your eye out!”


Dress-up

Some folks dress all Dickens-themed for caroling or holiday parades…but maybe you’re the kind of troublemaker to step it up with a little steampunk flair…

WEARABLE

Make a Guggenhat: Bluetooth-connected wearable NeoPixel marquee hat: A dapper top hat! Most exemplary! Bluetooth LE is a great way to control a project from a smartphone or tablet. Flexible NeoPixel strip is coiled around the hat, taking its name from the Solomon R. Guggenheim museum and its landmark spiral gallery.

Kaleidoscope Eyes (Trinket-Powered NeoPixel LED Ring Goggles): These full-color animated LED goggles attract a LOT of attention! We now offer a DIY pack with all the components.

NeoPixel Coat Buttons: Stay warm this winter season with 3D Printed NeoPixel coat buttons, powered by Gemma, Adafruit tiny wearables electronic platform.

Or perhaps the Krampus is more your style. Raise hell with these 3D Printed LED Fire Horns.


Other Fun Stuff

The long wintry nights provide an outlet for more blinkenlights projects…

NEWYEAR

NeoPixel PainterLight painting is an artistic medium combining light, motion and long-exposure photography. For as long as a camera’s shutter is open, a single point of light in motion will create a continuous streak in the final photograph. Digital technology takes light painting to the next level…weaving a swath of awesome across the completed frame. Snap an epic holiday greeting card!

florabrella

FLORAbrella: Stay dry, stay visible and stay festive through the night! You’ll be a rainbow in any storm with the FLORAbrella. With its NeoPixel LED strips and color sensor, you’ll be able to match your clothing, or display rainbow and rain patterns.


And More


Adafruit Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2014

Here are your 2014 shipping deadlines for ordering from Adafruit. Please review our shipping section if you have specific questions on how and where we ship worldwide for this holiday season.

The Adafruit Shipping Department works hard to get your orders out as quickly as we can, but once they’re in the hands of our carriers they’re out of our control.

Carriers have been struggling to keep up with the sharp rise in online orders. Last year UPS, FedEX, and USPS all experienced delivery delays.

So all the Adafruit Shippers say: Please be sure you get your gifts early! Order as soon as you can! Once you place your order we’ll ship like the wind!

UPS ground (USA orders): Place orders by Friday 11am ET – December 12, 2014 – There is no guarantee that UPS Ground packages will arrive in time for Christmas.

UPS 3-day (USA orders): Place orders by Wednesday 11am ET – December 17, 2014 – Arrive by 12/24/2014.

UPS 2-day (USA orders): Place orders by Thursday 11am ET – December 18, 2014 – Arrive by 12/24/2014.

UPS overnight (USA orders): Place orders by Friday 11am ET – December 19, 2014 – Arrive by 12/24/2014.

Please note: We do not offer Saturday or Sunday service for UPS or USPS.

Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, Christmas, no UPS pickup or delivery service.
Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, New Year’s Day, no UPS pickup or delivery service.

United States Postal Service, First Class and Priority (USA orders): Place orders by Friday– December 12, 2014 – Arrive by 12/24/2014 or sooner.

USPS First class mail international (International orders): Place orders by Friday – November 21, 2014. Can take up to 30 days ore more with worldwide delays and customs. Should arrive by 12/24/2014 or sooner, but not a trackable service and cannot be guaranteed to arrive by 12/24/14.

USPS Express mail international(International orders): Place orders by Friday – December 5, 2015. Can take up to 15 days or more with worldwide delays and customs. Should arrive by 12/24/2014 or sooner.

Gift Certificates are always available at any time.

When in doubt contact us!


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